The USS Fitzgerald, with its highly-advanced navigation, warfare & defense systems valued upward of US$1.5 billion, has a normal complement of 281 naval personnel. The ACX Crystal crew of 20 reportedly escaped injury, and their ship was comparatively lightly damaged.

Top-level liaison is said to be complicated (as the Trump administration hits its half-year mark) by continuing lack of a US Ambassador to Japan, nor is the Secretary of the Navy job finalized. Reports now claim the container ship was 'doing doughnuts' in the hour before the crash. But such a ship turns very slowly due to huge mass and length (730 feet), with limited visibility. Bullshit story? Is it even relevant?

The USS Fitzgerald was hit in the quadrant termed "the danger zone" where oncoming shipping typically has the right-of-way. (Specifics of this accident, however, remain to be determined).